Meanwhile, the Pentagon has asked the State Department to seek approval from Turkey to sail US warships into the Black Sea.

A spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry said Russian Federation "scrupulously abides by the provisions of the treaty, and the USA side knows this".

Russian Federation on Tuesday was accused by all 29 NATO members of violating the Cold War-era Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty by deploying a missile that could reach Europe, CNN reported.

"We reserve the right to operate freely in accordance with global laws and norms", he also said.

The last U.S. ship to enter the Black Sea was the fast transport ship USNS Carson City in October.

Freedom of navigation operations "are not about any one country, nor are they about current events", her statement said.

The Pentagon is likely trying to draw a line in the sand early on to prevent further escalation in the region, he said.

Throughout its voyage in worldwide waters the U.S. destroyer was escorted by the Russian Pacific Fleet's anti-submarine ship The Admiral Tributs and the Pacific Fleet's naval aviation, Konashenkov said. Under global maritime law, national sovereignty over water ends at 12 nautical miles. "We defended our interests all along and we continue to do so", Korotchenko added.

Amid the flurry of Russian and USA activity, the President has been relatively quiet.

"We do not do that for the simple reason our objective is not to show off in such a silly way, but to cope with the assigned tasks". He seemed reluctant to blame Russian Federation, adding, "We do not like what's happening either way".

Citing the Black Sea dispute, President Donald Trump last week canceled a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tensions have also been raised over Moscow's actions in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, where it fired up three Ukrainian vessels and then detained Ukrainian sailors.

NATO has accusedRussia of developing weapons in violation of the treaty, and the State Department has warned Russian Federation that it has 60 days to return to compliance or the treaty is finished.

He was also unequivocal in his response to Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian vessels, calling it a "a flagrant violation of global law" and saying "it just shows that Russian Federation can not be counted on right now to keep its word".